The Lottery in Costa Rica

On my monthly relocation and retirement tours I’m always asked about activities in which Costa Ricans engage. I always make it a point to talk about the lottery or lotería nacional. Don’t get me wrong! I don’t advocate going to a casino and gambling away your hard earned money, because I never do. However, I always explain how the lottery works here, especially after many of my clients notice the vendors selling the tickets on the streets and ask, “What are they selling there?”
The lottery is a part of most Costa Rican’s lives for a long time. Almost every tico I know dreams of striking it rich by winning the big Christmas lottery called EL Gordo Navideño or Premio Mayor (grand prize). There are also weekly lotteries which offer a smaller payoff. The results can be found in the newspapers.